A cash award of $1,000 will be given for the best fiction manuscript appropriate for readers ages 8-13, written by an unpublished author. Unpublished is defined as not having published any works of fiction for young readers. This includes self-published as well as commercially published work. The book must be a work of fiction in English with universal appeal of Jewish content for readers aged 8 to 13 years, both Jewish and non-Jewish. It should reveal positive aspects of Jewish life. Short stories are not acceptable.

While AJL cannot guarantee publication, the $1000 prize money has been an incentive for writers with varying experience to try their hands writing for this genre. The award carries prestige in the publishing world and several Sydney Taylor Manuscripts have subsequently been published. Published books that have won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award prior to publication are eligible to carry the Sydney Taylor Manuscript seal. To order seals to place on your own copies of winning titles, please contact the chair of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Committee.

Authors who wish to apply for The Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award should read the full rules and complete the application or send a stamped self-addressed #10 envelope to Aileen Grossberg at the address below.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN THE FINAL DATE FOR SUBMITTING ALL ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: SEPTEMBER 30. The winner will be announced in January. Questions can be referred to the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Competition coordinator, Aileen Grossberg.